Sign construction



13, 1934. H. T HALLQWELL 1,947,341

SIGN CONSTRUCTION Filed June 3, 1952 JlL Patented Feb. 13, 1934 PATENT OFFICE SIGN CONSTRUCTION Howard T. Hallowell, Jenkintown, Pa., assigner to Standard Pressed Steel Co., Jenkintown, Pa., i a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 3, 1932. Serial No. 615,240

9 Claims. (Cl. l0-125) My invention relates to signs employed as advertising media and more particularly to supporting means for the same. My invention is applicable to signs of the pedestal type, comprising a sign structure supported by a pedestal or post, as well as sign structures hung from suitable supporting means.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved formfof supporting frame within which a sign plate may be clamped and innnovably held.

A further object of my invention is to provide special means for clamping the frame to the sign.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of support for the frame v holding the sign plate.

' And a particular objectY of my invention is to provide a construction that will permit ready assembly of the parts by a single operator; the sign plate proper being first placed in its supporting frame which is clamped thereto, and the frame being so constructed that the clamping parts may then be positioned with respect to a support, which may be a pedestal, constructed to accommodate or cooperate with a part of the clamping means and receive a bolt or bolts or other fastening means for securing the sign plate and frame in permanent position with respect to such support.

These and other features of my invention are more particularly set forth hereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my improved sign construction.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line II-II, Fig. 1, on a slightly larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the supporting structure shown in Fig. 1, and a portion of the frame below the plane indicated at III-III, Fig. 1, on the same scale as Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV, Fig. 1, on the same scale as Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 isa view illustrating the upper end of a supporting standard or post.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary views similar to a portion of Fig. 1, illustrating modified arrangements within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating my improved construction applied to a hanging sign.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a modied form of sign enclosing frame which I may employ.

In the drawing, I have shown in Fig. 1 a front elevation of one form of my improved sign struc- 55 ture, in which 10 indicates the sign plate proper,

and 11 a rim or i'rame enclosing the same. The

rim or frame may have a cross sectional contour of the character illustrated in my Patent No. 1,835,980, dated Dec. 8, 1931; being provided with longitudinally extending ribs or projections 11a providing a continuous channel 11b for the reception of the edge of the sign plate 10, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, and outwardly or laterally disposed flanges 11, each preferably formed with an upstanding edge 11d.

In the form of construction indicated in Fig. 1, the frame or rim 11 is bent into circular form, with its free ends reversely bent to formsubstantially parallel arms 11, to which connecting means may be applied for the purpose of drawing such frame or rim into close engagement with the edge of the sign plate and such means may be in the form of a bolt (or bolts) 12.

The sign structure so constructed may be, and is preferably mounted upon a pedestal or post 13, which may be of tubular form, and may be supported by a suitable base of any desired construction (not shown). The free ends 11e of the rim or frame normally include the ribs or projections 11a and the upstanding edges 11d, and I preferably crush these portions in a suitable press which spreads the free ends and simultaneously with such spreading they are formed with a rounded contour adapted to lie against the surface of the post or pedestal 13, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 85 and 4; the crushing being applied at such point with reference to the major portion of the frame or rim 11 as to provide curved shoulders 11r of sufficient stiffness to resist any tendency of the frame to break at the point of connection with the pedestal. When the frame or rim 11 with the enclosed sign plate is mounted upon the pedestal, a second bolt 12a (or additional bolts) may be passed through openings formed in the arms 11e at the free ends of the rim or frame and registering openings formed in the walls of the pedestal or post 13.

In practice, the sign plate 10 is mounted within the frame or rim 11, and the bolt 12 is applied to the free ends 11e of the same and held in place 100 by the nut 14; the latter being turned up until the sign plate is held against displacement from such frame or rim. This initial engagement or support may be relatively loose, since the ribs or projections 11EL which provide the channel in 105 which the sign plate is seated are of a dimension insuring retention of such sign plate before it is finally clamped in position. The frame or rim with the contained sign plate is then to be mounted in the pedestal 13, to which the free ends 110 11e of the frame or rim are secured; the latter closely tting the curved surface of such pedestal. In order to permit ready placement of such frame or rim, the upper end of the pedestal or post may be and preferably is slotted 13a and when the frame is disposed upon the same, these slotted portions will accommodate the bolt 12, initially applied to the arms 11*e at the free ends of the same. The sign plate is now in the nal position it will occupy with respect to such pedestal orA post. The arms 11e forming the free ends of the frame or rim are provided with additional bolt holes 11g which register with openingswlBb in the pedestal or post aligned with the slots 13a, and to which a bolt 12a, with nut 14a, may be applied. After this latter bolt has been finally placed in securing position, the bolt 12 may be tightened; closely clamping the rim or frame 11 to the sign plate 10. It will be understood that additional clamping means may be employed if desired, and that in lieu of slotting the pedestal 13, as indicated at 13a, I may employ a bolt or other fastening device to clamp the frame independently of any engagement of such bolt or fastening device 25 with the pedestal; such clamping bolt being adapted to rest on top of the pedestal when the sign frame is applied thereto, and the arms of such frame having a plurality of additional apertures for the passage of bolts through registering apertures in the pedestal or post for the purpose of vsecuring the sign frame thereto.

' It will be noted upon reference to Fig. 1, that a small gap substantially triangular in contour and indicated at 15 is left between the lower edge of the sign plate and the upper end of the pedestal. This gap may be closed by a suitable filler piece, which may be of sheet metal, of a shape to overlie the lower edge of the sign plate and having a portion to enter the upper end of the pedestal and lie upon the upper bolt. This ller piece may be applied when the sign plate is being initially secured in the rim or frame and before the latter is mounted upon the pedestal; the position of the upper bolt keeping such filler piece in place. In

lieu of the use of a filler piece, the construction may be like'that illustrated in Fig. 6, where the pedestal is shown as of sufcient height to partly overlie theY lower edge of the sign plate; the latter entering the slots 13a provided for the re'- ception of the bolt 12.

In the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 7, the rim or frame 110 enclosing the sign 100, may be substantially continuous, except for a gap :l: of sufficient width to avoid contact and insure that the frame may be tightly clamped to the sign plate. To the lower portion of such frame adjacentl the free ends of the same I may weld members to form the parallel arms 110e to embrace thepedestal; such arms having the curved shoulder portions 110f. The points of Weld are indicated at a, and the edges may be additionally welded. if desired.. These arms 110e may be secured to the upper end of the pedestal in a manner precisely similar to that shown in Fig. 1. In

lieu of plain sections of flat stock illustrated as forming the arms e; such arms may beformed of pieces of the frame section such as illustrated in Figs. 1 .and 2; the ribs and edges of the same being crushed and bent to curved shape in. a manner precisely similar. to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, and the sections thus formed welded to the free ends of the frame in the manner indicated..

It will be understood, of course, that my imconnection withhanging signs, and in Fig. 8 I have shown a sign and frame of a construction similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, hung from a support 20, which may be carried by an arm 21. If desired, the depending portion of the support may be of a length sufficient to partly overlie the edge of the sign plate, as indicated by dotted lines. This sign may be mounted so as to permit the member 20 to swing, and with proper modification, the support 20 may be arranged to rotate in addition to swinging. The frame and the manner of mounting the sign plate within the frame, and of securing the latter to the support may be indentical with the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, or Fig. 6, or such frame may have arms to embrace the support of the character illustrated in Fig. 7.

Other metal sections may be employed to form the rim or frame, and in Fig. 8 I have shown a section of angle metal 111 with its edges bent down to form flanges 111e; the central portion of such section forming a groove 111b which will be disposed annularly of the frame to receive the edge of the sign plate.

While I have illustrated in the drawing signs of circular shape supported by pedestals, it will be understood that signs of other shape than circular may be employed with my improved con-- struction.

Various modifications may be made in the above described embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a frame surrounding the sign plate and in which the same is supported and conned; said frame having free ends extending outwardly from the same, means for connecting said free ends whereby the sign plate may be clamped to 115 the frame, a support embraced by said free ends and to which said frame may be connected, and means independent of the sign-clamping means for securing the free ends of the frame to said support.

2. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a frame in which the same is supported; said frame having free ends extending outwardly from the same, means for connecting said free ends whereby the frame may be clamped to the sign plate, a pedestal upon which said frame may be mounted with said free ends embracing the same, and means independent of the signclamping means for securing said frame to the pedestal.

3. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a discontinuous frame integral throughout in which the same is supported; said frame having free ends extending outwardly from the saine, means for connecting said free ends whereby the sign plate may be clamped to the frame, a support to which said frame may be connected with said free ends embracing the support, and means independent of the sign-clamping means for securing the free ends of said frame to the support.

4. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a frame substantially encircling the sign plate and in which the same is supported and confined; said frame having curved arms welded thereto and extending outwardly from the same, means for connecting said curved arms whereby the frame may be clamped to the sign plate, a pedestal upon which said frame may be mounted with said curved arms embracing the same, and means independent oi.' the sign-clamping means for securing said curved arms of the frame to the pedestal.

5. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a split frame having a groove receiving the edge ofthe sign plate; said frame having outwardly extending free ends, means engaging said free ends for clamping the frame to the sign plate, a support for the frame; said free ends of the frame embracing said support, and additional securing means for holding the frame to the support.

6. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a split frame having a groove receiving the edge of the sign plate; the free ends of said frame lterminating in curved arms, a bolt engaging said curved arms for clamping the frame to the sign plate, a support for the frame; said support having a recess in its upper end receiving the bolt engaging the curved arms of the frame, and securing means independent of the sign-clamping means for holding said arms to the support.

7. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a split frame having a groove receiving the edge of the sign plate; the free ends of said frame terminating in curved. arms, means engaging said curved arms for clamping the frame to the sign plate, a support for the frame; said support being embraced by the curved arms of the frame, and securing means independent of the sign-clamping means for holding said arms to the support.

8. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a rim or frame in which the same is supported; said rim or frame having free ends extending outwardly from the same, means for connecting those portions of said free ends immediately adjacent the sign plate whereby the latter may be clamped to the frame after assembly and before mounting, a support to which said frame may be connected with said free ends embracing the same, and means independent of the first-named clamping means for securing said free ends to the support.

9. In a sign structure, the combination of a sign plate, a rim or frame in which the same is supported; said rim or frame having free ends extending outwardly from the same, a bolt for connecting those portions of said free ends immediately adjacent the sign plate whereby the later may be clamped to the frame after assembly before mounting, a support to which said frame may be connected with said free ends embracing the same; said support having a slotted end receiving said bolt, and means independent of said clamping bolt for securing said free ends to the support.

HOWARD T. HALLOWELL. 

